When the banquet ended, the guilds departed for their respective homes.
Magnolia Town.
"They're back!"
"They're really back!"
"Quick, everyone, this way!"
"We've waited so long, welcome home!"
By now, Magnolia's main street was packed with townsfolk who had come especially to greet Fairy Tail's return.
"Everyone! Let's give the Grand Magic Games champions the warmest welcome!"
Twilight Ogre's master, Banaboster, greeted them with a broad smile and his entire guild in tow.
Three months earlier, these same people had bullied Fairy Tail with snarling faces, but after the Games, they'd turned friendly.
The old Fairy Tail they could push around. The new Fairy Tail let them off easy and they knew it.
"Fairy Tail triumphantly returns!"
"We're baaack!"
The guild Mages beamed at the crowd's enthusiasm.
"Erza-san, your Pandemonium battle was incredible."
"Thank you."
"Mirajane-san, you were wonderful."
"You saw?"
Mirajane cupped her cheeks. "Oh my, I'm a bit embarrassed."
"Takeshi, nicely done!"
"Strongest Mage in Fairy Tail, just as expected!"
Elfman declared proudly, "Right now he's not just Fairy Tail's strongest, he's the strongest on the entire continent of Ishgar!"
Evergreen rolled her eyes. "What are you proud of? You're not Ishgar's strongest."
"Takeshi's my brother-in-law! If he's the strongest, of course I'm proud! I'm a man!"
"Well, that's true."
"Check this out!" Natsu pulled a trophy from his bundle.
"Proof of victory—the King's Cup!!"
Cheers erupted at the sight of the trophy that symbolized the Games' highest honor.
"We actually won."
"Still hard to believe."
"The guild that always came in last… actually took first place."
Jet, Droy, and Warren wept openly.
"Next, the mayor of Magnolia has prepared keepsakes for you."
"Keepsakes? You really didn't have to go to such trouble." Makarov looked sheepish.
"Ahem!"
The mayor cleared his throat. "Members of Fairy Tail, please look over there."
Following his gesture, the guild saw their once-battered hall restored to its former glory.
"It's exactly the way it was!"
The entire guild stared in astonishment.
"Fairy Tail has brought unmatched honor to our town, so we rebuilt your guildhall as a gift."
"Mayor… you're too kind…"
Tears streamed down Makarov's wrinkled cheeks.
"No need for thanks, everyone on this street pitched in to rebuild it."
"I love this street so much!"
Soon the guild was escorted back inside the familiar building, and joy filled every heart.
Fairy Tail was officially reborn. Mages who had left under duress returned, and new hopefuls joined, all welcomed so long as they bore no ill will.
Within days, the guild bustled with life once more.
Takeshi set out on an S-Class Quest to slay monsters. With his current power, he completed it with ease. Finishing the job left him refreshed—work really was the best tonic.
The Grand Magic Games of Fiore were famed not only within the kingdom but across every nation of Ishgar.
Thanks to their stellar victory, Fairy Tail was flooded with job offers.
When Takeshi returned, several new S-class Quests already hung on the second-floor board, delighting him.
He would take countless S-class Quests, draw more Gold cards, recycle the extras, raise his magic power, and grow ever stronger.
To many, Takeshi had already become the pinnacle of what a Mage could be.
But to Takeshi, merely outclassing other Mages meant little. His battle with Acnologia had shown him how immense the gap still was. He needed greater magic power and even stronger allies.
"Master, an urgent request just arrived." Mirajane approached with a form in hand.
"Ever since the Grand Magic Games, we've been getting more designated requests."
Makarov took the sheet: a designated job, one where the client names a specific Mage.
Most named Takeshi, but knowing he accepted only S-class work, Makarov rejected the rest and publicly stated Takeshi took only S-class designated requests.
Mirajane smiled. "Everyone's suddenly so popular."
Besides Takeshi, Erza, Laxus, Natsu, and other standouts of the Grand Magic Games were swamped with personal requests and had been run off their feet.
"Takeshi, another quest specifically for you."
"Is it S-class?" Takeshi asked Makarov.
"Mm."
Makarov glanced down, about to answer, then froze. "This is…"
"What's wrong, Master?" Mirajane asked, noticing his change of expression.
"The client for this job is Warrod Sequen, fourth among the Ten Wizard Saints and one of the Four Gods of Ishgar."
"What?!"
"The client is one of the Ten Wizard Saints?!"
"What's going on?"
"Why would someone that powerful ask us for help?"
Almost everyone in the guild jumped in shock.
The Ten Wizard Saints are, without question, the mightiest Mages on the continent of Ishgar. Whatever task required their help had to be unimaginably difficult.
"Takeshi, this assignment must be completed." Makarov said to Takeshi.
"Mm, I understand." Takeshi nodded.
"The mission from the fourth seat of the Ten Wizard Saints, count me in!"
Natsu had always wanted to see the world. Hearing that such a big shot had personally assigned Takeshi, he burned with curiosity and begged to tag along.
"You weren't even named. Why butt in?" Gray snapped at Natsu.
"I'm just curious, okay? What's wrong with that?" Natsu was sick of the routine jobs lately and craved a real challenge, staying still wasn't his style.
Anyone could accept an S-Class Quest, provided an S-Class Mage came along. Neither he nor Lucy had reached that rank yet, so he'd had no chance to test how strong he'd actually become.
After a moment's thought, Makarov nodded. "All right, Natsu can go."
Natsu's strength had soared lately. A bit of real experience beside Takeshi would do him good.
"Yeah! Awesome!" Natsu leapt with joy.